Born in Regina, Saskatchewan in 1917, and educated in Saskatchewan schools until the end of grade twelve, Dr. Helen Preston Glass began her university education at the University of Saskatchewan’s School of Home Economics. After one successful year there, she decided instead to pursue a career in nursing, and completed a three-year degree program at the Royal Victoria Hospital School of Nursing in Montreal, Quebec in 1939. She then stayed on at that facility as a supervisor in the Anaesthetic Department, and subsequently moved on to many other nursing positions in general hospitals in Dunnville, Ontario; Abbotsford, British Columbia; and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan between 1941 and 1945. From 1952 to 1953, Dr. Glass worked as a clinic nurse in an obstetric clinic in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Dr. Glass began her career teaching nursing at the Holy Family School of Nursing, in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, from 1953 to 1955. Here, she taught courses in foundations, issues and trends in nursing at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and developed and taught a new clinical teaching program. She then moved on to Victoria General Hospital, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she taught both basic sciences and clinical nursing courses. She earned a Certificate in Teaching and Supervision from the University of Manitoba in 1958, and furthered this pursuit at Columbia University Teacher’s College, completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1960, Master of Arts in 1961. She then became the first person to assume the position of Education Secretary for the Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses. As such, she was responsible for planning and conducting workshops and institute for registered nurses in practice and education, and providing consultation to Schools of Nursing. She also acted as liaison with other health disciplines in Manitoba, and as secretary to the various committees associated with MARN.

In 1962, she joined the Faculty of the University of Manitoba School of Nursing, teaching programs for both new students and registered nurses. She was primarily responsible for the design and implementation of introductory and third year level courses for the first four-year baccalaureate nursing program which began in 1963. After completing her Master of Education in 1970, and Doctor of Education (Nursing) in 1971, again at Columbia University, Dr. Glass returned to the Faculty, and in 1972 became full professor and Director of the School of Nursing. She received honorary Doctor of Law degrees from Memorial University in 1983, the University of Western Ontario in 1986, St. Francis Xavier University in 1991, and the University of Montreal in 1993, and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from McGill University in 1995.

Dr. Glass has been the recipient of a number of awards and scholarships honouring her achievements in both nursing and education. Upon her graduation from the Royal Victoria Hospital School of Nursing in 1939, she received the award for Proficiency in Bedside Nursing. She was awarded the Dr. Katherine E. McLaggen Fellowship Award from the Canadian Nurses’ Foundation for both 1968/69 and 1969/70, and the Marion Woodward Award and Lecture from the University of British Columbia in 1974, and the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal in appreciation of exemplary service in 1977. She was named one of 1979's Women of the Year by the YWCA. She was also awarded the R. Louise McManus Medal from the Nursing Education Alumni Association of Teachers’ College, Columbia University, and the Jean Mance Award of the Canadian Nurses’ Association in 1992. In 1993 she was given the Special Achievement Award by MARN, among many other honours.

Dr. Glass has been both member and chair of several professional associations and committees, at the university, provincial, national, and international levels. Examples include membership in the Council of the Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing (CAUSN), the National Nursing Committee of the Canadian Red Cross Society, the Board of Directors of the Big Sister Association of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba Senate Executive Committee. She has served on the Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses (MARN) Social Policy Committee, and the YW/YMCA Board of Directors and the Manitoba Health Research Council.

Dr. Glass has also been an invited member of the Task Force on Euthanasia and Definition of Death, Law Reform Committee of Canada, and was a member of the Review Board for the National Health Grants Directorate. She has consulted on health care proposals and nursing education programs within Canada, and has helped develop submissions to the Advisory Council on the Status of Women, the Hall Commission, and the Canada Health Act. She has been President of MARN, President and member of the Canadian Nurses’ Association (CNA) Board of Directors, and a member of the Canadian Nurses’ Foundation (CNF) Board of Directors. She was active in the Canadian Conference University Schools of Nursing, and served on the Canadian Delegation to the World Health Assembly in 1983 and again in 1985.

Politically, she was very active in educating nurses across Canada and enlisting their support to successfully introduce health care amendments to the Canada Health Act, which went through 1982 to 1984, while Dr. Glass was president of the CNA. She has also been active in the Canadian Health Care Economics Association, and presented the first paper by a Canadian nurse on “Economics of Nursing: Cost Effective Strategies,” to the Second Canadian Conference.

Following Dr. Glass’s retirement from the faculty of nursing at the University of Manitoba in 1986, the Canadian Nurses Foundation established the Doctor Helen Preston Glass Fellowship for Doctorate Study, awarded annually to a student pursuing their graduate degree in nursing.

In 1989, Dr. Glass was appointed to the Order of Canada, and in 1995, she was given a honourary life membership in the Canadian Public Health Association, in recognition of outstanding services in the promotion of public health. In 1999, the University of Manitoba honoured Dr. Glass by naming their new nursing building after her. Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, dedicated the building during her visit for the 1999 Pan American games.

Dr. Glass published widely on nursing and health care in professional journals in Canada and the United States, and internationally in French, English, and Danish. Dr. Helen Glass passed away on February 14, 2015.

The papers in the fonds range from the early part of the 1950s to the 1990s and reflect the career of Dr. Helen P. Glass as a nursing educator, researcher, practitioner, and administrator at the provincial, national and international levels.

The fonds consists of vitae, biographical sketches, photograph, professional correspondence, materials relating to awards, speeches and addresses, conferences presentations, drafts and copies of publications, university course materials, and papers about consultations and review board activities. Her contribution to professional nursing and health associations - provincial, national and international - constitute a large portion of the fonds. These include the Canadian Nurses Association, Canadian Nurses Foundation, Victorian Order of Nurses, Canadian Red Cross, Canadian University Nursing Students Association, Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing, International Nurses Association, World Health Organization, International Council of Nurses, National League of Nursing, Royal College of Nursing, National Federation of Nurses’ Unions, National Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses, Manitoba Educational Research Council, Manitoba Health Research Council, and Manitoba Nursing Research Institute. Correspondents include Ginette Rogers and Monique Begin.

Also included is the background work on her “Study of the Use of Clinical Facilities by Nursing Students in the Province of Manitoba,” and a manuscript copy of the assembled study. The notes include proposals, applications for project renewal, reports, interviews, correspondence, and data analysis. The study was published in 1977 by Dr. Glass, Patricia Zimmer, and Carolyn Vogt, and was funded by a Health and Welfare Canada National Health Grant.

Second Accession, A.00-55:

The papers in the accession range from 1979-1999 and reflect the career of Dr. Helen P. Glass as a nursing educator, researcher, practitioner, and administrator at the provincial, national and international levels.

The fonds consists of vitae, biographical sketches, photograph, professional correspondence, materials relating to awards, speeches and addresses, conference presentations, drafts and copies of publications, university course materials, and papers about consultations and review board activities. Helen Glass’ contribution to professional nursing and health associations - provincial, national and international - constitute a large portion of the fonds. These include the Canadian Nurses Association, Canadian Nurses Foundation, Victorian Order of Nurses, Canadian University Nursing Students Association, Western Region Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing, World Health Organization, International Council of Nurses, Royal College of Nursing, Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses, Manitoba Nursing Research Institute, St. Amant Centre, Manitoba Association of Licensed Practical Nurses, Nursing Economic Interest Group, Indian and Inuit Nurses Council, Catholic Health Association of Manitoba, Canadian Public Health Association, Canadian Health Economics Research Association, Manitoba Organization of Nurses Association, Canadian Society for International Health, Manitoba Public Health Association and the Canadian Association for the History of Nursing.

Also included are her notes for proposals, applications for project renewal, reports, interviews, correspondence, and data analysis.

Third Accession, A.02-07:

The fonds consists of Helen Glass' papers from her studies at the Teachers' College, Columbia University in 1970; her reports, articles, and correspondence; the files pertaining to the establishment of the Manitoba Nursing Research Institute (MNRI); the files re: Nursing Crises of 2000; World Health Organization reports; and the books from the Library of Helen Glass.

By Dr. Helen P. Glass’ expressed wish, the fonds is wholly available to all who wish to study it so long as they abide by the copyright law as passed from time to time by the Parliament of Canada. Patrons must also exercise proper care in using the Collection. Any excerpts should give proper source attribution and acknowledgment.

During the period covered by the majority of the tape collection, Dr. Glass was Director of the School of Nursing at the University of Manitoba, and in this capacity she arranged various speakers and conferences related to nursing education. She also did her own research in the field.

The series consists of sound recordings of conferences and presentations related to nursing education. Speakers include Dr. Helen Glass, Marlene Kramer, Tom Maguire, Rob Foshay, and Earl Misanchuk. Also included is one cassette containing data from some of Dr. Glass? research.

Teacher data [19-?]

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11 Teacher data #3 [19-?]

The sub-series consists of a sound recording of Dr. Glass and other nursing educators involved in a discussion regarding the activity of teaching.

The sub-series consists of a sound recording of one of the conferences involving St. Boniface Hospital. The cassette is one of a series, the rest of which are unavailable.

Marlene Kramer Presentation [1976?]-1976

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11 [Marlene Kramer presentation - 1] 7 October [1976?].

1 [Marlene Kramer presentation - 2] 7 October [1976?]

1 [Marlene Kramer presentation - 3] 7 October [1976?]

1 [Marlene Kramer presentation - 4] 7 October [1976?]

1 [Marlene Kramer presentation - 5] 8 October [1976?]

1 [Marlene Kramer presentation - 6] 8 October [1976?]

1 [Marlene Kramer presentation - 7] 9 October 1976

1 [Marlene Kramer presentation - 8] [9 October 1976?]

1 [Marlene Kramer presentation - 9] [9 October 1976?]

In her capacity of Director of the School of Nursing, Dr. Glass organized several presentations on the subject of nursing education. Marlene Kramer was asked to give several presentations on her various research in the field of nursing education. At this particular time, she was presenting her research on the effects of baccalaureate nursing students working in a hospital setting.

The sub-series consists of sound recordings of a presentation given by Marlene Kramer over a period of three days, on the topic of her research in baccalaureate education in nursing. Additional speakers on these recordings include Nettie Peters, and others listed by first name only.

The fonds consists of Helen Glass' papers from her studies at the Teachers' College, Columbia University in 1970; her reports, articles, and correspondence; the files pertaining to the establishment of the Manitoba Nursing Research Institute (MNRI); the files re: Nursing Crises of 2000; World Health Organization reports; and the books from the Library of Helen Glass.

This accession consists of the following series:

1. Papers, Reports, Articles

2. Correspondence

3. Manitoba Nursing Research Institute (MNRI)

4. Primary Health Care

5. Canadian Nurses Association

6. World Health Organization Reports

7. Books

Papers, Reports, Articles

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11 Teachers' College, Columbia University 1970

The use of Mental Practice in Learning a Specified
Nursing Technique, January 1970